Chess Puzzle #1QnWO — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 986 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop h3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/f5/g6/h5. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c6; knight c4; pawns a6/b7/d6/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen b4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
  3. Best move: Qb2# — queen a3→b2, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The combination ends with Qb2# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p4p1/p1bpp1Pp/5P1P/1qn2P2/2N4B/PPP1Q3/2KR3R w - - 1 21

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.